Celtic vs Besiktas: Prediction, Tips and Odds | Europa League

Celtic host Besiktas on Thursday still waiting for their first point of the Europa League league phase, and a 2-0 defeat at Falkirk on Sunday has increased the scrutiny on Martin O'Neill.

Besiktas arrive in Glasgow eighth in the table on seven points, unbeaten after two wins and a draw, for an 8pm kick-off at Celtic Park.

Celtic vs Besiktas preview and form guide

Celtic opened the league phase with a 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros, lost 4-1 at Benfica and then went down 2-1 to Celta Vigo at Celtic Park.

Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Falkirk came despite 70% possession, 14 corners and an expected goals figure of 2.83, with former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain making nine saves.

Ethan Ross scored in the third minute after a Cameron Carter-Vickers error and Scott Tanser added a second in the 38th minute, handing Falkirk their first win over Celtic in 19 years.

The result did not cost Celtic top spot in the Premiership, where they remain four points clear of Rangers having played a game more, and they had beaten Hearts 7-1 on 18 October.

Mika Baur has scored two of Celtic's three league-phase goals, with Camilo Duran adding the other and also leading the Premiership scoring charts on seven.

Besiktas began the league phase with a 4-1 home win over Marseille, followed it with a 3-2 victory at Hoffenheim and then drew 2-2 at home to Crystal Palace.

Junior Olaitan's 73rd-minute goal had levelled that game at 2-2, five minutes before Umit Akdag was sent off for a challenge on Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Defending is the visitors' concern after they threw away a 2-0 lead at Kasimpasa on Sunday, with both of the home side's goals coming from headers.

Vincenzo Italiano made nine changes for the Palace game after a 2-0 defeat at Trabzonspor, a reminder that he is prepared to rotate heavily between matches.

Besiktas have won four of their nine away games in all competitions this season, so Glasgow offers a test of how well they travel under Italiano.

Dusan Vlahovic, a free signing from Juventus in August, leads the attack with seven Super Lig goals but has yet to score for Besiktas in the Europa League.

Celtic vs Besiktas team news and predicted lineups

Celtic team news

Alistair Johnston remains out with a hamstring injury, which leaves Colby Donovan as the likeliest option at right-back.

Kieran Tierney took a knock against Falkirk and will be assessed before the game, while Yang Hyun-jun is working back from a hamstring problem and O'Neill has suggested he could be involved this week.

O'Neill could make several changes after Sunday's defeat, with Kasper Hogh, Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren all candidates to start, while Oliver Sorensen's availability has not been confirmed.

Haissem Hassan was Celtic's highest-rated player against Falkirk, creating four chances, and the winger is expected to keep his place on the right of the attacking three.

Carter-Vickers returned for the Falkirk game after several matches out with a muscle problem, which gives O'Neill a fuller choice of centre-backs.

Celtic predicted lineup vs Besiktas

Predicted XI: Johnstone; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Baur; Hassan, Nygren, Osmand; Duran

Besiktas team news

Umit Akdag is suspended after his red card against Palace, an automatic one-match ban in UEFA competition, and Fabio Miretti is also unavailable through injury.

Captain Orkun Kokcu is a doubt, with Besiktas hoping he can return after being assessed in training this week.

Dusan Vlahovic scored at Kasimpasa on Sunday and is expected to lead the line, with Hyeongyu Oh also in the squad after scoring at Hoffenheim.

Leandro Trossard and Vaclav Cerny are expected to support Vlahovic, with Wilfred Ndidi, Olaitan and Salih Ozcan in midfield in a 4-1-4-1 shape.

Besiktas predicted lineup vs Celtic

Predicted XI: Nubel; Murillo, Agbadou, Topcu, Yilmaz; Ndidi; Cerny, Ozcan, Olaitan, Trossard; Vlahovic

Celtic vs Besiktas head-to-head record

Celtic and Besiktas have no competitive meeting on record, so there is no head-to-head history to draw on before Thursday's game.

The nearest connection is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who joined Besiktas in August 2023 and left by mutual consent two years later before signing for Celtic in February.

Hyeongyu Oh, who signed for Celtic in January 2023, has since moved to Besiktas by way of Genk, who received €14m for him.

Ian Wilson, one of only two Scots to play for Besiktas, expects goals in Glasgow and has predicted a 2-2 draw.

Our Celtic vs Besiktas prediction and betting tips

Celtic can be expected to score at home, but a back line that has been breached repeatedly this season gives Besiktas the better route to a narrow win.

Odds correct as of Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 16:00 GMT.

All of these selections are reasoned assessments rather than certainties, so please bet responsibly and only stake what you can afford to lose.

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